MML upgrade heads NR’s Christmas engineering work
WORK to upgrade the Midland Main Line reaches another key stage over Christmas when Network Rail installs the final sections of the fourth track between Kettering and Bedford ahead of testing and commissioning.
The work takes place between Christmas Eve and January 4. No trains will run between Market Harborough/Corby and Bedford until January 2, while on the last two days of the blockade buses will replace trains between 2130 and 0800.
Elsewhere over the festive period, in Leeds, Platforms 1-5 will be closed as work continues on building a new platform at the station. Between December 27-29, NR will test signalling equipment, change the track layout and install new overhead line equipment.
In south east England, no Southern high-speed or Eurostar trains will call at Ashford International on December 26-29, as Network Rail replaces switches and crossings and upgrades drainage in the area.
On December 29, signalling upgrades in the Hither Green area means that trains between St
John’s and Dartford will be subject to change, as will those between Lewisham and Petts Wood/Dartford via Grove Park and Sidcup on January 1. Also on December 29, maintenance will take place around Brixton and on January 1 around Lewisham. In both of those areas a Sunday service will operate.
A series of works are planned on the Anglia route, including replacement of overhead wires near Wickford, power supply improvements between Stratford and Lea Bridge and Shenfield-Liverpool Street, track maintenance and repair in the Bethnal Green and Stratford areas, switch and crossing works at Colchester, and platform extensions at Littleport and Waterbeach.
In Scotland, from December 25-29, Edinburgh Haymarket East Junction will have four sets of points renewed and 250 metres of track replaced. A bus replacement service will operate into Edinburgh Waverley from stations to the west of the city.
Engineering work will also take place at a series of locations on the West Coast Main Line between December 24-27.
Projects include: overhead line stanchion work at Bletchley, in preparation for construction of a new flyover for East West
Rail; track replacement at Crewe and Tring stations; and drainage improvements between Preston and Lancaster.
Elsewhere, ballast is being replaced at Wolverhampton, HS2 preparation works continue, and at Birmingham New Street preparation works will take place ahead of the station’s full resignalling in 2022.
On January 1/2, track will be replaced and a foot crossing renewed near Warrington.
On the Chiltern Main Line, track replacement near Haddenham and Tame Parkway means buses will substitute for trains on December 29/30.